POLICE are trying to establish why a university student, who died after he was hit by a bus, had apparently spent the previous evening sleeping in his car miles from his lodgings.

Newcastle University student Richard Hyde died on the outskirts of Stanley, early on Monday last week, but lived with his girlfriend and flatmates in Jesmond, Newcastle.

Police said that Richard, 21, from Sheerness, Kent, had left Newcastle at about 10pm on Sunday and that his silver Vauxhall Astra had since been found in a street in Stanley.

It is unclear why he had travelled to Stanley because he had no links with the town, and it is not known why he then set off walking early on Monday.

A computer, textbooks and personal belongings were in the vehicle, which was about a mile from where he was hit by the bus, on the A693 at New Kyo, on the outskirts of Stanley.

The car had petrol in the tank and had not been damaged.

A police spokesman said: "We believe he may have spent the night in the vehicle before leaving it at some point early on Monday morning. We do not know where he may have been heading when he crossed the road and was struck by the bus."

Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle adjourned an inquest into his death earlier this week pending further inquiries.

Meanwhile, tributes were paid to the chemistry student by Dr John Errington, head of Newcastle University's School of Natural Sciences.

Dr Errington said: "Richard was a hard-working, dedicated and lively student who was very popular with staff and his fellow students. His untimely death is a tragedy and our hearts go out to his family at this time."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on (0191) 375 2159.